The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated Saturday’s council elections in the Federal Capital Territory did not hold in two polling units due to card reader failure.
National Commissioner in the commission, Prof. Anthonia Simbine, made this known in Abuja on Saturday while briefing newsmen on the election.
Simbine, however, announced that arrangement had been made for the exercise to be conducted in the affected units on Sunday.
As stated by her, the polling units involved are Dabi Village Square Unit 002, Pai Ward, Kwali and Dabo Fulani in Gwagwa, AMAC.
She stated that the card reader stalled the conduct of the election in the units, explaining that at the time the technical challenge would have been resolved, “it would have been too late to begin election in the wards”.
The commissioner charged all voters in the affected areas to come out on Sunday as INEC officials were billed to arrive at 7 a.m. to begin the conduct of the election.
“As of now, we have just two polling units where election will be repeated.
“It may be more than that at the end of the day but right now we are sure of two.
“In Pai ward, we are going to repeat the exercise by tomorrow, also in Gwagwa (AMAC); the card reader malfunctioned and the voters waited patiently in those places.
“They are going to have opportunity to vote tomorrow,” she stated.
On the general conduct of the election, Simbine stated that the process was peaceful except for skirmishes reported in few areas.
As stated by her, slight violence was reported in Wuse but it was taken care of by security operatives.
“In Tunga Karshi, we had to evacuate our staff and in that particular place about 150 voters were affected.
“We had to completely stop the voting process to ensure safety of our staff.
“We would not be repeating elections in Karshi because the voters there have demonstrated that they do not want to vote.
“Moreover, there is nothing to show that there would be no violence if we choose to repeat election in that area,” she stated.
On the possibility of announcing the elections results on Saturday, Simbine stated that collation was still ongoing and that the results were expected to start trickling into headquarters from midnight.
She expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the election “and the doggedness of the officials and the voters in spite of the heavy rainfall”.
.....